A perfect painting work requires a smooth plaster wall. So when you are going to paint your wall, you must prepare it so that it will be smooth enough and ready to paint. Now, the question can arise, how to smooth plaster walls before painting? Well, you can do it in various ways.
In this article, we will let you know some very crucial processes that will be helpful for you to prepare the plaster wall. So, after reading this article, you will be able to smooth your plaster wall for your paint job.
Let’s start our journey.
How to smooth plaster walls before painting?
If you want to do your painting work easily and quickly, you must have a smooth wall. Some effective processes will greatly help you to prepare your walls for painting.
Skim coating and filler are very effective and workable processes for this work. You can use one of them to make your plaster wall smooth.
Here we are describing both processes.
Find out wall flaws
At the very beginning of the work, you have to find out the flaws of the wall. This step will help you to detect the specific issues. After detecting the issues, you will be able to go to an ideal solution.
So, your first duty is to find out the troughs, wrinkles, and flaws of the wall. After that, you have to decide what process will be best for you.
However, let’s jump to the ultimate process.
Use a skim coating process.
The majority of people recommend the skim coating process for smoothing a plaster wall. So you can use this process without any hesitation.
In this process, a very thin coat of mud is applied to the plaster wall. To get a good result from this process, you must follow some important steps.
Let’s get to know the step-by-step process.
Arrange necessary pieces of equipment
At the very beginning of the process, you need to arrange some required tools. These things will help you to accomplish the smoothing process. You will need:
- Joint compound
- A bucket
- Skimmer plate
- Wall bond knife
- Sandpaper
- Face mask
- Safety Goggles
Prepare the surface
After arranging the needed things, you have to prepare the wall for skimming. Firstly, clean the wall and remove any kind of dust from it. You will not get a better result if you do skim on a dusty wall. So clean the wall thoroughly.
Secondly, you need to fill the larger cracks in the wall. Otherwise, a huge amount of skim coat will be required to finish the work. You can do this with the pre-mix joint compound and wall bond knife.
And finally, you need to clean the wall and make it dry completely. This is the very crucial step before going into the ultimate process.
Mix the joint compound
In this step, you have to mix the joint compound with water. Mix it in a mud pan or a bucket. Try to make it a better compound so that it can be muddy.
At the same time, you have to keep in mind that the mixture will not be very hard or very less thickened. You will face difficulties in both conditions.
However, as it is the highly crucial step of the whole process, you must do it perfectly.
Apply the skim coat
Now, you have to apply the mixture of joint compounds to the wall. Use the skimmer plate to apply the coat. Hold the joint compound on the skimmer plate and start to apply slowly.
Some experts suggest starting to work from a corner of the wall. They also recommend applying the coat from top to bottom. Never leave gaps while using the coat.
However, you will not be able to finish the work at a time. So take your time and systematically apply the coat.
Apply the final coat
Whenever you have finished the initial coat, start to apply the final coat. Apply the mixture in the same way that you have used.
After completing the first coat, find out the wrinkles and flaws. Now apply the second coat to them.
However, sometimes you will need to apply a 3rd or 4th coat. Never be exhausted to do that because it will be very helpful to get a very smooth wall.
Finish the work
Leave the wall for some time to dry after applying the final coat faultlessly.
When the wall has dried completely, use sandpaper on the wall to make it eventually smooth for painting.
However, clean the surface again, and now your wall is ready to paint.
Use filler process
Fillers are used to fill the cracks of the wall. It is a very good and easy option for smoothing a plaster wall. You will be able to smooth your uneven walls by applying this process.
Let’s describe the process.
Take preparation
At the very beginning of this process, you need to search for the cracks. Now arrange the necessary things for the work.
Now, prepare the wall. Clean the surface and remove dust. Decide what filler will be best for you. Select any spackling paste to do the work perfectly.
Apply the filler
Now, apply the filler to the cracks of the wall. Fill up the cracks, small holes, etc. with the paste. You can use a plastering trowel to do the work comfortably.
Try to start from a corner of the wall. Moreover, start to apply the filler to the small holes and cracks. And after filling them flawlessly, fill larger cracks and holes.
Now, leave the wall to dry.
Close the process
When the wall gets dried completely, you have to go through the sanding process. Use sandpaper to make the wall smooth enough.
Clean the wall again before going to start the painting process.
Read here about Best Sander For Exterior Paint Removal
Verdict
Plaster walls are not like drywalls. So, you will not be able to smooth a plaster wall without using an excellent process.
Moreover, both of the described processes are almost identically similar. You can use one of the processes that will be comfortable for you.
However, I hope you do have not any confusion about how to smooth plaster walls before painting? And I strongly believe that you will be able to prepare your plaster walls for painting.
Good luck!